BIBA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION
YEW CHUNG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
OF BEIJING EARLY CHILD CENTER
Yew Chung International School of Beijing originally planned to renovate its Early Child Center with a focus on updating materials and lighting. The design team believed, however, that only a fundamental reorganization of the space layout could truly elevate the childhood environment.
The existing layout consisted of five enclosed classrooms arranged around a central common that lacked natural daylight and visual connectivity. The renovation transforms this overlooked core into a bright and active space for play and learning. Solid walls with only clerestory windows between learning studios and the central commons were replaced with full-height glass partitions, ensuring continuous visual connections among all learning studios. Wide folding doors allow learning studios to open fully into the shared area, dissolving rigid class boundaries and enabling learning and activities to unfold freely in groups of varying sizes. Classrooms previously located along the exterior wall were relocated to the interior and repurposed as nap rooms, allowing the central activity area to benefit from natural daylight.
LOCATION Beijing, China
AREA 800 m²
STATUS Completed
CLIENT Yew Chung International School of Beijing
YEAR 2015
PROGRAMS Education, Interior Design
At the center of the commons, a carpeted multi-purpose stage serves both as a performance platform and as a daily space for play and gathering. Together with movable furniture, soft play elements, and integrated storage, the central area shifts from a mere circulation zone into a social and exploratory heart of the center. Existing flooring was replaced with durable, environmentally responsible linoleum suitable for high-frequency use by young children. Selected wall and ceiling surfaces are finished with fabric-padded panels that provide acoustic comfort while also serving as display surfaces for children’s work.
Color and form play an equally important role in shaping the sensory experience. Inspired by Henri Matisse’s paper cutouts, a vibrant palette and flowing floor patterns introduce rhythm and movement, balanced by soft eggshell-colored walls to create a warm and creative atmosphere without overstimulation.
Through transparent spatial relationships, flexible modes of use, and carefully calibrated sensory elements, the Early Childhood Center is redefined as a nurturing environment for imagination, collaboration, and emotional security, embracing YCIS’s holistic educational philosophy of learning through exploration and play.
This project was designed by IAP in collaboration with Feilding Nair International, a design consulting firm in educational facilities planning.
CHIEF DESIGNER
Xiaoyi Ma
DESIGN TEAM